News Release 699

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, DEC. 28, 2010 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has referred the case against a Butler County subdivision developer to the Missouri Attorney General’s Office for violations of the Missouri Clean Water Law.

The department referred the case against Mike Haga to the attorney general alleging Missouri Clean Water Law violations at the Indian Creek Crossing Subdivision, CR548 Highway T, Poplar Bluff.

Since March 9, 2010, the department has conducted three inspections of the subdivision and issued a letter of warning and two notices of violation to Haga for failing to comply with residential housing development regulations for wastewater treatment and disposal at the subdivision.

Due to the chronic and serious nature of these violations, the department has referred this matter directly to the Missouri State Attorney General’s Office.

Missouri's Clean Water Law exists to protect human health and the environment, and the department is responsible for enforcing the law and regulations. The department’s enforcement actions help protect public health and the environment by requiring facilities to maintain compliance with the standards set out in the law.

The department’s main goal in any enforcement action is to work with a facility to successfully achieve compliance with the standards and then ensure it has the tools to remain in compliance. As part of that process, penalties may be used to ensure future compliance by removing the economic benefit of continued noncompliance.

The department strives to work with owners and operators to fix problems before an issue is referred. In situations where the responsible party is unwilling or unable to cooperate to bring the facility into compliance and be protective of public health and the environment, the department will refer the case.